Yang Bao woke with the first blush of dawn and made his way to the local temple. He sat among the faithful, letting the rhythmic chants of the monks fill his mind, pushing out the anxieties that often plagued him. He closed his eyes, allowing the ancient words to soothe his worries and fears, his heart finding a rare, fleeting peace.
At noon, Yang Bao was sharing a simple lunch with a monk when Guozhao Zhaohui entered the temple, his young voice eager. "Second Senior Brother," Zhaohui announced, his face bright, "Third Master said it's time. The duel is about to begin!"
Yang Bao placed his empty bowl on the table, offering a grateful nod to the monk. He stood up, taking Zhaohui's small hand in his. A smile touched his lips, a competitive glint in his eyes. "Let's go battle Senior Brother, Zhaohui. I'm ready."
Guozhao Zhaohui, however, paused, a worried frown creasing his brow, his voice soft. "Second Senior Brother," he asked, his voice barely a whisper, "can you pretend to lose to Senior Brother? Just this once?"
Yang Bao smiled, a gentle, understanding smile, and lightly patted Guozhao Zhaohui's head. "I'm sorry, Zhaohui, I can't. If I pretend to lose to him, it would be an insult to him, and the same would be true for me. Senior Brother and I both practiced hard for this opportunity. We must fight each other as hard as we can to show respect for each other. It's a mutual respect between hunters, a way of honoring our training." He looked down at the young boy, his gaze kind. "You are too young to understand this, but when you grow up, you will soon understand the meaning of such a duel."
"I don't understand," Guozhao Zhaohui insisted, still puzzled, his brow furrowed.
Yang Bao chuckled. "Alright, then little Zhaohui should eat more, grow up quickly, and you will understand. You'll see."
Guozhao Zhaohui's face broke into a wide smile. He stretched out his hand, eagerly taking Yang Bao's. "Alright, I'll eat more! I want to understand!"
"Alright, it's a deal," Yang Bao confirmed, giving his hand a squeeze. "Let's go to Peach Blossom Mountain. Masters and Senior Brother must have been waiting for us long enough. We shouldn't keep them waiting."
Guozhao Zhaohui's smile widened. "Let's hurry up, Second Senior Brother! Third Master is not a patient person!"
When Yang Bao and Guozhao Zhaohui arrived at Peach Blossom Garden, they found the three masters—Guo Baiyu, Zhao Renshu, and Fang Yaoting—already there, waiting patiently with Guozhao Zhiqiang, the air thick with anticipation.
Guo Baiyu stood up, his gaze sweeping over the two young men, his voice firm and authoritative. "Today's duel," he stated, "once you know who the winner is, you must stop the duel immediately. Today's duel is a friendly duel, and there should be no bloodshed. This is a test of skill, not a fight to the death."
"We understand, First Master," Yang Bao and Guozhao Zhiqiang affirmed in unison, bowing respectfully.
The two young men stood opposite each other, the air crackling with anticipation, their eyes locked. With a synchronized shing, they drew their swords from their scabbards, the sound sharp and clear.
"Senior Brother," Yang Bao said, his eyes alight with determination, "please do not go easy on me. I will not go easy on you. Let's give it our all."
Guozhao Zhiqiang smiled, a rare, genuine smile, a competitive glint in his eyes. "The same goes for you, Ah Bao. I expect nothing less."
With a sudden burst of speed, Guozhao Zhiqiang charged towards Yang Bao, his sword aimed directly, a swift, powerful strike. Yang Bao, agile despite his limp, leaped gracefully over Guozhao Zhiqiang, landing softly on the ground before quickly rushing to his opponent's left, his movements fluid. Yang Bao swung his sword, moving his body swiftly to the right, a deceptive maneuver. Holding the sword in his left hand, he unleashed a fierce strike towards Guozhao Zhiqiang.
Just as Guozhao Zhiqiang blocked the second blow, Yang Bao had already launched a third, lightning-fast attack from behind him, a blur of motion.
Zhao Renshu smirked, a look of impressed amusement on his face, his eyes wide. "Ah Bao has learned so fast! He's a natural!" He scratched his chin thoughtfully. "What move did he use, Baiyu?"
"Did you forget that trick, Renshu?" Guo Baiyu asked, a hint of playful mockery in his voice, a knowing smile.
"What? When?" Zhao Renshu countered, genuinely puzzled, trying to recall. "Why don't I remember anything like that?"
Guo Baiyu and Fang Yaoting shook their heads in exasperation, a shared amusement. "Yang Bao's move is called Swordless," Fang Yaoting explained, his voice carrying the weight of ancient knowledge.
"I now understand why it is called Swordless," Guo Baiyu mused, a look of comprehension dawning on his face, his eyes fixed on the duel.
"I still don't understand," Zhao Renshu confessed, utterly bewildered, his brow furrowed.
"When you are one with the sword," Fang Yaoting elucidated, his voice carrying the weight of ancient wisdom, "what's the point of having a sword? Your sword can fight with you as you please, swinging like the wind, making it difficult for anyone to protect themselves against this move. It's an extension of the wielder."
"So, how can Zhiqiang protect himself, Yaoting?" Zhao Renshu asked, intrigued, leaning forward.
"The only way for Zhiqiang to win," Fang Yaoting continued, "is to be faster than Ah Bao and protect himself for as long as possible until Ah Bao is tired and slows down. But now it seems... Ah Bao has not indicated that he will stop anytime soon. His energy is boundless."
"In my opinion," Guo Baiyu added, "Zhiqiang is not faster than Ah Bao. Dragging the fight until Ah Bao is tired may not happen. Ah Bao's determination is too strong."
"Why not, Baiyu?" Zhao Renshu pressed.
"Because Ah Bao fights with a purpose," Guo Baiyu stated, his voice firm, "but Zhiqiang doesn't. Zhiqiang fights for the sake of fighting, Ah Bao fights to prove himself."
"By the time Ah Bao is tired," Fang Yaoting concluded, "Zhiqiang will also be tired too. Their endurance is matched."
Guo Baiyu looked at Zhao Renshu. "Since you made me the judge of this duel, and as we see right now, Ah Bao is likely to win this duel. He has the upper hand."
"We have to wait until the last moment, Baiyu," Zhao Renshu insisted, still holding out hope, a playful stubbornness.
"At this point," Fang Yaoting said firmly, "you have to admit that Ah Bao has suppressed Zhiqiang with swordsmanship. His skill is superior."
Guozhao Zhiqiang swiftly dodged a powerful sword blast, taking cover behind a tree. But as soon as the blast struck the trunk, Yang Bao was already behind him, a relentless pursuit. Yang Bao swung his sword, forcing Guozhao Zhiqiang to quickly fly up into the blossom tree, seeking refuge.
Yang Bao pursued relentlessly, his sword a blur as he continuously attacked Guozhao Zhiqiang amidst the branches, forcing him to defend. Guozhao Zhiqiang flipped himself over to the other side of the tree, but a powerful wave of sword qi struck him directly. He raised his own sword to block, but Yang Bao's strong blast shattered Guozhao Zhiqiang's blade, sending fragments scattering.
To avoid a direct hit, Guozhao Zhiqiang executed several somersaults, putting distance between himself and Yang Bao. He landed a few feet away, disarmed, his chest heaving. Yang Bao limped from behind the tree, approaching Guozhao Zhiqiang and the three masters, his face triumphant.
Guo Baiyu looked from Guozhao Zhiqiang to Yang Bao, his gaze calm. "Enough," he declared, his voice firm. "The outcome is decided. Yang Bao wins."
Guozhao Zhiqiang looked at Yang Bao, a faint smile on his lips, a hint of pride in his eyes. "You win, Ah Bao. I lose. You're a formidable swordsman."
Yang Bao smiled back, a triumphant glint in his eyes. "I told you, Senior Brother, I won't treat you well just because you are my Senior Brother! I fight to win!"
Zhao Renshu looked at Yang Bao, his eyes sparkling with a new intensity, a profound admiration. "Ah Bao, come with me." He turned and slowly walked into the depths of the garden, and Yang Bao quickly followed, curious.
"Second Master," Yang Bao asked, his voice filled with curiosity, "where are we going? What's next?"
"You will know when we arrive, Ah Bao," Zhao Renshu replied, not breaking his stride, a mysterious smile on his face.
Yang Bao followed Zhao Renshu for a while until they stopped in front of a majestic, ancient tree, its branches sprawling wide. Yang Bao looked at Zhao Renshu, puzzled. "Second Master, why do we stop in front of this big tree?"
Zhao Renshu looked at Yang Bao and chuckled softly, a nostalgic sigh escaping him. "You sound like your First Master and your Shimu, kid. That's how they acted when I brought them home for the first time. They thought I was crazy." He lightly patted Yang Bao's left shoulder, a warm, comforting touch. "Kid, this is the main entrance of Peach Blossom Valley. The true heart of our home."
Yang Bao gasped, taken aback, his eyes wide with surprise. "Really? This tree?"
"Look over there," Zhao Renshu said, pointing to two distinct graves, nestled beneath the tree's roots. "The one to the left belongs to Shan, and the one to the right belongs to my master, your grandmaster, Master Zhao. Next to Master Zhao's tombstone is his sword, the Morality Sword."
Yang Bao's brow furrowed, a sudden solemnity washing over him. "Second Master, why did you tell me this? Why show me this?"
"Look kid," Zhao Renshu began, his voice serious, his gaze unwavering, "after thinking about it for a long time, only you are worthy of Master Zhao's Morality Sword. It chooses its wielder, and it has chosen you."
Yang Bao looked at Zhao Renshu, hesitation in his eyes, a profound respect for Zhiqiang. "Second Master, I don't want to overstep Senior Brother. I think it's only right that Senior Brother has Grandmaster Zhao's sword. He's the eldest."
Zhao Renshu's patience snapped, his voice rising in exasperation. "Are you an idiot or what, kid?! Do you think I want to give the Morality Sword to you? It chooses its owner! Why are you such a coward, you could at least try! Don't be so humble!"
Yang Bao took two steps forward, his mind racing, a conflict raging within him. He had just forged a true brotherhood with Guozhao Zhiqiang, and he truly didn't want to offend him, to take something that might be his. He turned back to face Zhao Renshu. "Second Master..."
But he found himself standing alone in the Peach Blossom Garden. He rushed forward, calling out, "Second Master, where are you?! Where did you go?!" The only sound that answered him was his own voice, echoing from a distance, a haunting silence. "Second Master..."